Combined washing and conveying apparatus.



I A. L. DUNCAN.

COMBINED WASHING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1909.

Patented June 28, 1910.

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TINTTE STAT PAENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. DUNCAN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED WASHING AND CONVEYING- APPARATUS.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Washingand Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to the subject of canning preserved fruits,vegetables, and the like, and the principal object of the same is toprovide an improved apparatus whereby the articles to be canned may bethoroughly washed, the rejected articles carried away, and the cannedmaterial conveyed to a point where the cans may be syruped.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above itis contemplated employing a table or bench which is provided with anelongated trough parti tioned to provide a plurality of washing vats inwhich a tray is mounted and adapted to be raised by hydraulic power,said vats being each provided with an independent communication with asource of hydraulic pressure whereby its tray is operated and alsowhereby the water is kept at a predetermined level within the vats.

The invention also contemplates a system of rope or other suitableconveyers for delivering the cans to each washing vat and for removingthe filled cans therefrom and for conveying the rejected articles awayfrom the vat.

In the practical application of an invention capable of performing theabove stated functions, it will, of course, be understood that theessential features thereof are susceptible of changes in details andstructural arrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment of whichis shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a transversevertical sectional View of a table or bench showing the presentinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectionalview of the same taken on the line 22, F ig. 1. Fig. 8 is a horizontalsectional view taken on the line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4; is a top plan viewof one of the trays used in connection with the washing vats. Fig. 5 isa side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on theline 66, Fig. 5.

Referring to said drawings by numerals, it will be seen that theimproved table or bench Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11, 1909.

Patented June 28, 1210.

Serial No. 495,355.

is composed of front standards 1 and-rear standards 2, which areconnected by the brace rods 3 and 4, and which form a support for anelongated trough 5 which is provided with a plurality of equally spacedapart partitions 6 which divide the same into a plurality of washingvats 7. The rear standards 2 project above the said vats 7, and supporta plurality of inclined shelves 8 the front ends of which are providedwith strips 9 which prevent cans from rolling from the same. The rearfaces of said standards 2 carry two conveyer frames 10 and 11 throughwhich rope or other suitable conveyers 12 and 13 pass and which are usedfor delivering empty cans to the rear ends of the shelves 8, the cansbeing removed from said conveyers by an operative and placed into saidshelves so that they will slide down the same and rest against theabutment strips at the ends thereof and thereby be within easy reach ofanother operative stationed in front of the vats 7.

The trough 5 carries an inclined shelf 15 at its front side upon whichthe cans may be supported while being filled. The rear portion of thetrough has a board or plate interposed between itself and the rearstandards 2, said plate being designated by the numeral 16 and having anendless belt 17 passing over it, said endless belt being divided by alongitudinal partition 18 so as to provide a compartment thereon forbringing the fruit, vegetables or the likewhich are to be washed andcanned, and for removing the rejected article. A chute 19 is carried bysaid rear standards, the front end of the same projecting over thewashing vats 7, and the rear end terminating in a hopper 20 whosedischarge outlet is directly over the partitioned compartment of thebelt 17 which removes the rejected articles.

A conveyer frame 21 depends from the front portion of the shelves 8 andover and through which a rope conveyer 22 passes, said conveyer 22 beingadapted for removing filled cans from the vats.

Each vat 7 has an opening centrally located in its bottom from which issuspended a tube or cylinder 23 the base of which carries a coupling 24which is in communication with a pipe 25 equipped with a threeway valve26 and having an extension 27 which enters said vats through its frontside. Said three-way valve 26 has its casing in communication with asource of hydraulic pressure. A plunger or ram 28 is slidably mounted inthe cylinder 28 and has one end projecting into the vat 7. A flat tray29' provided with perforations 30 is mounted on the projected end ofeach ram 28.

In operation, the empty cans are brought to the shelVes'S-and removedfrom the-concans isbrought-to the vats by means of the endless belt orconveyer 17, and by means of a switch or deflecting bar 31 carried byeach vat and adapted to be swung over the fruit compartment of saidbelt, the contents or a part thereof is deflected into each vat and ontothe tray .29 therein. The threeway valve 26 having been manipulated sothat water in flowing through the pipe 25 and acting upon the ram 28raises the tray and also said ram so that its escape .ports 32 will bewithin the va't, holds said tray above the'bottom of the vat and alsoassures of water being delivered for washing pur poses. By furthermanipulation of the valve 26 the water may be exhausted partially'fromthe vat through the pipe extension 27,

to lower the tray, and thereby assure of the necessary agitation of thewater to assure of a proper washing of the material on the tray. Afterthe articles have been thoroughly'washed, .the better grade of'the sameare deposited in the cans on the shelf 15 untilthe cans are filledafter'whichthey are placed on the conveyer 22 and carried there- 'by toone end of the table for syruping &c.

The rejected articles are dropped onto the chute 19 and from thencedischarged onto the compartment therefor of the belt 17, which carriesthe same to a suitable receptacle. The vats 7 are eachprovided with theusual overflow opening 33 in their rear sides, as is shown in .Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the conveyers '12 and 13 have beenshown with cans mountedthereon and ready to deliver the same to the shelves :8. The conveyer 22is also shown with a can on the same, the can being'shown in an uprightposition and on its way to the end of the table to be syruped. Saidfigure also shows a power pulley or the like 34 adapted for connectionwith a source of power and mounted on a shaft '35 which carries anotherpulley 36 for operating the partitioned belt 17 It will be seenfrom .the foregoing that through the described system of rope conveyersthe empty cans arebeing constantly delivered and the filled cans removedfrom the vats,:and alsothat a constant supply of material is being fedto each vat so that :the

ticles from the vats.

same maybe deflected thereto, and also provision is made for conveyingthe rejected ar- Another prominent and distinctive feature of theinvention is in the use of the valve controlled source of water supplyvvhich provides the necessary pressureto raise the plunger or ram;to-per- 'mit the exhaust from the ram to return to the supply pipe sothat said exhaust is not wasted but may be used to wash the .fruit orVegetables; :and also that through the described mann-er .of permittingthe pressure to exhaust from the ram that the water in :the vats will beagitatedand-thereby prevent sediments'lodging on-the bottom of the vats,as wellasassure ofa thorough washing of .the fruits or vegetables.

lVhatI claimas my invention is.:- I

1. .An apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of.vats, means forsupplying cans thereto, means for removing filled canstherefrom, .a tray for each vat,means for feeding material to eachtray,a.ram.for each tray, and a source-of hydraulic ,pressure forraising said rams and also providing a circulation through each vat.

.2..An apparatus of the character described comprising a;plurality'0fvats, means for supplying empty-canstliereto, means for removing filledcans therefrom, a tray for each conveyer, .a conveyer provided withcompartments one of whichcarries.material to sa1d trays and theother-removes re ected material therefrom, and a source ofhydraulicpressure for-actuating said traysand also providing :acirculation through each vat.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising .a plurality ofwashing vats, conveyers for delivering empty cans thereto, conveyers forremoving filled cans therefrom, a tray mounted in each vat, a belt fordelivering material to said vats and removlng re ected materialtherefrom, and a source of hydraullc pressure supply for each "vatforactuating the trays therein and also providing acirculationtherethrough.

1. In an apparatus of the character described a plurality of washingvats, a .ram slidably mounted in each vat, a perforated tray carried byone end of said ram and positioned in said vat, a source of hydraulicpressure supply for providing water for washing purposes and also toactuate the rams, and a valve for controlling said pressure supply.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature inpresence of twowitnesses.

.A'RTHUR L. DUNCAN.

Vvitnesses F. P. SCHROEDER, H. C. SOHROEDER.

